Homily 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 23 August 2026 Year A
23 aug Isaiah 22:19-23, Romans 11:33-36, Matthew 16:13-20
The first
reading from the prophet Isaiah speaks about a change in leadership during a
difficult period in the history of Judah. Jerusalem was under threat from the
powerful Assyrian empire. Shebna was an important royal official, but he had
become proud and concerned more about his own position and honour than about
serving the people. God removes him and chooses Eliakim in his place. God calls
him “my servant” and says that he will be “a father to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem.” He is given “the key of the house of David”, a sign of authority
and responsibility. God will also fasten him like a peg in a firm place. A
strong peg could carry a considerable weight. Eliakim is therefore presented as
someone others can depend upon. This gives us an important lesson about
leadership. Authority is not given to make us important; it is given so that we
can become a support for others. Shebna wanted to make a name for himself.
Eliakim is called to carry the weight of others. For us Christians, the image
of the “key of David” points forward to Christ, who has the ultimate authority
to open and shut. In Christ, we see perfect servant leadership: authority
expressed through love, humility and self-giving. A good leader is not
necessarily the person who stands at the centre, but the person who can quietly
carry the weight of others. In our families, communities and Church, God may
place people in our care. The question is not, “How important am I?” but
“Can others lean on me?”
In the
second reading taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, St. Paul highlights
that God’s wisdom is far greater than human understanding. Paul reminds us that
we cannot fully understand God’s plans. We often ask, “Why did God allow
this?” or “Why is God doing things this way?” But Paul teaches us
that faith does not mean having an answer to every question. Sometimes faith
means trusting the One whose wisdom is greater than ours. There is also a
beautiful lesson about humility. Paul asks, “Who has known the mind of the
Lord?” and “Who has been his counsellor?” We cannot place ourselves above God
or imagine that God owes us something. Everything we have is ultimately
received from him. The passage ends with one of the most beautiful summaries of
Christian faith: “From him and through him and for him are all things.” God is
the source of our life, the one who sustains us, and the final goal of our
existence. The challenge is to move from “I need to understand everything” to
“I can trust God even when I do not understand.” Like Paul, we are invited to
turn our questions into prayer, our uncertainty into trust, and our
understanding into worship. And perhaps this is also
why knowing Jesus is so important. Faith is not simply about having all the
answers. It is about knowing the One whom we trust.
What is the difference between shopping for
your best friend and shopping for an acquaintance? When you shop for your best
friend, you know exactly what they like and dislike. You know what will make
them happy. But with an acquaintance, you may know their name and a few things
about them, but you don't really know what they would love. Why? Because you
only really know someone when you have a relationship with them. Knowledge
grows through relationship. That is the heart of today’s Gospel.
Jesus asks
his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They give different
answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Then Jesus
makes the question personal: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter responds,
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” This is a turning point in
the Gospel. Peter has not simply given the correct answer to a theological
question. He has recognized the person standing before him. Jesus is not merely
another prophet or teacher. He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. And
Jesus tells Peter that this understanding has been revealed to him by the
Father. Christianity is not merely about having information about Jesus; it is
about having a relationship with Jesus. I can know that
Jesus was born in Bethlehem. I can know his miracles and parables. I can even
know many passages of Scripture by heart. But none of this automatically means
that I know Jesus. We
can attend Mass, read the Bible, study theology, know prayers and even speak
beautifully about Christ—and still remain distant from Him. Jesus therefore
asks each of us the same question: “Who do you say that I am?” Not, “What
does the catechism say about me?” Not, “What do your parents say?”
Not even, “What does the Church say?” All these are important. But Jesus
asks for our personal confession of faith. Peter's
confession also becomes the foundation of a community. Jesus gives Peter the
keys and entrusts him with responsibility for the Church. For us Catholics,
this is an important foundation for the ministry of Peter and for the apostolic
succession through which the Church continues the mission Christ entrusted to
the apostles. Our faith is personal, but it is never private. We receive the
faith from the Church, we live it with the Church, and we are sent by the
Church.
I invite you today to turn Jesus’ question around and ask Him in prayer:
“Jesus, who am I for you?” Peter’s answer changed his identity. He was no
longer simply Simon; Jesus called him Peter—the Rock. When we truly encounter
Jesus, He also gives us a new identity and a new mission. Let us ask ourselves
three questions today: Do I know about Jesus? Or do I
know Jesus? And does knowing Jesus change the way I live? Perhaps today,
instead of giving Jesus a theological answer, let us give Him a personal
answer. Let us move
from knowing about Jesus to knowing Jesus, from information to relationship,
and from relationship to mission. May God bless us all.
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